Aug, 2016 : Asking for Blog Sponsorship and Getting Over Your Fear
📅 - Many bloggers are afraid to ask for sponsorship for their blog. The main reason for the fear; they don't want to deal with rejection. However, sponsorship is vital to some blogs and if you want to become a successful blogger, you will probably need sponsorship at some point.
You cannot just expect somebody to come out of the blue and offer to sponsor your blog. It's normal to be concerned that you will take payment for sponsorship and it won't be worth what you charged. Here are a few tips you can use to not only pitch prospective sponsors, but also select them.
Choosing your Prospects
You're less likely to be rejected and more likely to be happy with your sponsor, if you choose the right prospect. It all starts with who you know and the brands you already love and use. If you've been promoting something on your blog for a few years and earning some type of affiliate commission, or not, this may be the perfect sponsor for you.
When you love and know the brand, you're more likely to provide a positive sponsorship for the company. This doesn't have to be just big brands, either. If you love a local shop or a smaller brand, don't be afraid to add them to your list.
Do your Homework
After you have a few brands on your list, it's time to do your homework. You need to know them in and out. Learn the company history, read the entire website, read articles written about the brand and gain as much knowledge as possible about them.
You will also need to find the correct person to contact and pitch sponsorship to. Googling the social media contacts or researching the website will help. You can even check LinkedIn if you're struggling to find the right contact person. It's best to pitch to a real person, than a general email address.
Become an Ambassador
Brand Ambassadorship can lead to sponsorship very quickly. When you follow the brand, share their social media posts, subscribe to their newsletter and participate in contests and events, you're building a relationship. This can go a very long way to getting sponsorship from the brand for your blog.
Sell Yourself and Your Blog
When it's actually time to reach out for sponsorship, many bloggers are afraid to sell. You need to understand that your blog offers value and you can show that value along with giving compelling reasons why they should sponsor your blog. It's also important to know what your blog is worth in sponsorship to a brand.
Set Your Price, Under Promise and Over Deliver
You want to set a price and keep it where it is. Even if the first few sponsor prospects tell you it's too high, you have to know what your worth. A sponsor will pay you what you want, if they can see the value in it. When you show the value, they will pay what you ask.
After you sell a sponsorship, always under promise with the plan of over delivering. For example, if you tell a sponsor you will give them a certain amount of advertising for a specific rate; give them what you promised plus more. You can add in a brilliant hashtag for the campaign, share their content extra or even do a short video for their brand.
Gaining blog sponsorship doesn't have to be scary. There are plenty of brands and companies willing to sponsor your blog, if you provide value for them. Show them how you can make it worth their while and they will gladly pay for sponsorship.
You cannot just expect somebody to come out of the blue and offer to sponsor your blog. It's normal to be concerned that you will take payment for sponsorship and it won't be worth what you charged. Here are a few tips you can use to not only pitch prospective sponsors, but also select them.
Choosing your Prospects
You're less likely to be rejected and more likely to be happy with your sponsor, if you choose the right prospect. It all starts with who you know and the brands you already love and use. If you've been promoting something on your blog for a few years and earning some type of affiliate commission, or not, this may be the perfect sponsor for you.
When you love and know the brand, you're more likely to provide a positive sponsorship for the company. This doesn't have to be just big brands, either. If you love a local shop or a smaller brand, don't be afraid to add them to your list.
Do your Homework
After you have a few brands on your list, it's time to do your homework. You need to know them in and out. Learn the company history, read the entire website, read articles written about the brand and gain as much knowledge as possible about them.
You will also need to find the correct person to contact and pitch sponsorship to. Googling the social media contacts or researching the website will help. You can even check LinkedIn if you're struggling to find the right contact person. It's best to pitch to a real person, than a general email address.
Become an Ambassador
Brand Ambassadorship can lead to sponsorship very quickly. When you follow the brand, share their social media posts, subscribe to their newsletter and participate in contests and events, you're building a relationship. This can go a very long way to getting sponsorship from the brand for your blog.
Sell Yourself and Your Blog
When it's actually time to reach out for sponsorship, many bloggers are afraid to sell. You need to understand that your blog offers value and you can show that value along with giving compelling reasons why they should sponsor your blog. It's also important to know what your blog is worth in sponsorship to a brand.
Set Your Price, Under Promise and Over Deliver
You want to set a price and keep it where it is. Even if the first few sponsor prospects tell you it's too high, you have to know what your worth. A sponsor will pay you what you want, if they can see the value in it. When you show the value, they will pay what you ask.
After you sell a sponsorship, always under promise with the plan of over delivering. For example, if you tell a sponsor you will give them a certain amount of advertising for a specific rate; give them what you promised plus more. You can add in a brilliant hashtag for the campaign, share their content extra or even do a short video for their brand.
Gaining blog sponsorship doesn't have to be scary. There are plenty of brands and companies willing to sponsor your blog, if you provide value for them. Show them how you can make it worth their while and they will gladly pay for sponsorship.
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